Chapter 64: Misunderstanding Resolved
"Look at this cave," Wu Yuetang glanced at the two families arguing over a rock in the distance. "There are so many people and so many gossips. If they really run out of food, who knows what kind of chaos they might cause. That little cave is out of the way and quiet. We can live there and avoid being a nuisance to others."
The village chiefs exchanged glances and fell silent. The Dayao Village chief sighed, "You're right. Go ahead. It'll be good for your family to live more comfortably." He paused, then added, "The path up is slippery. Ask your brothers to keep an eye on it. If anything happens, call us. We're not far away."
"Hey! Thank you, Village Chief!" The worry on Wu Yuetang's face disappeared instantly. He smiled with two small fangs showing, turned around and ran towards his own territory.
Wu Shoutian was directing his sons to pile up firewood when he saw her rushing over. He asked in confusion, "What's going on? Have you fed the horses?"
"What are you feeding the horses?" Wu Yuetang snatched the half-folded mattress from Li's hands, "Quick! Pack up! Let's move!"
"Moving? Where to move?" Li was confused.
"Move upstairs!" Wu Yuetang blinked mysteriously, her voice low, "I found a 'detached villa' where we can live alone. It's quiet!"
"What?" Wu Shoutian didn't understand.
"It's... a cave that belongs exclusively to our family!" Wu Yuetang was afraid of being overheard if she talked too much, so she simply started packing. "Dad, let the eldest and second brothers carry the heaviest bags of grain, and the third brother will help me lead the horses. Mom will take my younger brother and sister and walk slowly!"
Ye Jingchen stood beside her at some point, and seeing her frantically stuffing herbs into the cloth bag, he asked in a low voice, "Do you need help?"
"Yes!" Wu Yuetang handed him a bundled cloth bag, "Help me carry this, thank you!"
Ye Jingchen took it steadily, his eyes fell on the tip of her nose which was red from the cold, and the corners of his mouth curled up almost imperceptibly.
The family was busy packing up. Chen Zhaodi was startled by the sudden noise and looked up, a little confused. Wu Yuetang walked over and stuffed a small bag of dry food into her hand. "Second sister-in-law, take it. Eat it on the way."
Chen Zhaodi was stunned. As she took the bundle, her fingertips accidentally touched Wu Yuetang's hand, burning it like a small heater. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, she only uttered a low "thank you."
Wu Yuetang smiled and said nothing more. She turned around and called out to her family, "Let's go! Let's go live in our little cave!"
In the light of the torches, the Wu family, carrying their bags and leading their horses, slowly moved towards the cave entrance. Chen Chunhe caught sight of them leaving and ran over excitedly: "Yuetang girl, where are you going? Isn't the cave nice?"
"Oh, my mother wants some quiet time." Wu Yuetang said lightly without turning her head. "If Aunt Chen feels crowded, she can also look for a free place herself."
Chen Chunhe watched their backs disappear into the wind and snow outside the cave. She curled her lips and was about to follow them to see what was happening, but her husband grabbed her and said, "Why do you care about other people? Hurry up and fence off our territory! If it's too late, there won't be any good rocks left!"
She gave up and turned to join the melee for territory. She didn't notice that after Wu Yuetang and his group turned the corner of the mountain, their pace quickened significantly as they headed towards the small cave where hope was hidden.
As soon as they entered the small cave, Wu Yuetang pointed to the empty space in the corner in the dim light that shone through the cave entrance. "Dad, look here. Build a stove with stones so the smoke can escape through the cracks in the cave ceiling. You and mom will sleep in the innermost part, and the rock wall will block the wind. The two sisters-in-law will sleep next to you, and the three brothers will guard this side of the cave entrance so it's easier to keep an eye on things. Ye Jingchen and I will set up two sheds over here..."
Li peeked inwards and saw that the rock wall was indeed dry. He couldn't help but praise it, "This place is warmer than the big cave below!" Wu Shoutian nodded, rolled up his sleeves, and began to pull weeds from the corner. "The eldest and I will clear away these dead vines first, while the second one will go and pick up some stones to build the stove."
The two sisters-in-law put down their bags. Li was about to call on Chen Zhaodi to help spread the hay, but she saw Ye Jingchen already bent down and picked up the bundle of animal hide blankets that had been thrown from the carriage. His dark robe swept across the gravel on the ground, his movements so light that they made no sound. "Where are these spread?" he asked Wu Yuetang, his eyes accidentally glancing at Chen Zhaodi. She saw her face turn pale and her grip on the hay suddenly tighten.
Wu Yuetang was directing her younger brothers to move the grain jars to the stone platform. She turned around and saw Chen Zhaodi with her back to everyone, her shoulders tense like a fully stretched string. She couldn't help but walk over and said, "Second sister-in-law, what's wrong? Are you tired?" She reached out to touch her second sister-in-law's forehead, but she dodged away suddenly.
Chen Zhaodi's face flushed red, her fingertips dug into her palms, and she avoided looking at her: "No, it's okay..." Before she finished speaking, tears fell, hitting the hay and leaving small wet marks.
"What happened?" Wu Yuetang squatted down and saw her shaking with tears. Her heart skipped a beat. "Did someone bully you?"
Ye Jingchen quietly retreated to the cave entrance, his back to them, shielding him from the wind and snow, leaving a quiet corner in this small space. Li and Wu Shoutian also stopped what they were doing and watched from afar, not daring to make a sound to disturb them.
"It's...it's Chen Chunhe..." Chen Zhaodi choked up, finally unable to hold back her sobs. "A few days ago, she came to me and said that she couldn't sew the jacket well and would be punished by the village chief... She also said...she also said that if I didn't help her, she would tell my parents when she got to the capital that I was unfilial..."
She sobbed and told the whole story of how Chen Chunhe had thrown a tantrum and cried, how she had used her parents' trust to pressure her, and how she had snatched away two animal-skin blankets. At the end, her voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum: "You kept those two blankets specifically for the winter in the snow-capped mountains... I, I'm so sorry..."
Wu Yuetang's face remained expressionless after hearing this. Her grip on the straw slowly tightened, her knuckles turning white. Chen Zhaodi's heart sank at the sight of her, and she burst into tears. "Yuetang, scold me! It's my fault for being useless and failing to protect our things at home..."
Unexpectedly, Wu Yuetang suddenly let go of her hand, and the straw rustled to the ground. She didn't look at Chen Zhaodi, but stared at the icicles on the cave wall. Her voice was flat, "If the blanket is gone, you can make another one, but you've suffered so much injustice, why didn't you tell your family?"
Chen Zhaodi was stunned: "I... I'm afraid you'll be angry... and I'm also afraid that my parents will worry if they find out..."
"You're talking nonsense!" Wu Yuetang stood up suddenly, turned around and walked towards the cave entrance, her voice filled with suppressed anger, "We are a family. You were bullied and didn't tell me. Are you going to keep it in and make yourself uncomfortable?" She grabbed the hatchet leaning against the wall of the cave, and there was no expression on her face when she turned around. She just said "I'll be back soon", then bent down and crawled out of the cave.
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